K-Rod Makes Accountants Nervous  —  Rodriguez Is on Pace to Finish 61 Games, Which Would Trigger His Hefty $17.5 Million Option  —  LOS ANGELES—With 32 games finished so far this season, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez entered Tuesday on pace to finish 61 games on the year.

Field of sluggers set for Home Run Derby  —  Ortiz, Fielder to captain strong teams in annual All-Star event  —  With some of the best power hitters in the game assembled and some tough decisions made, the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby field is final.  —  Set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday …

Red Sox hang on vs. Blue Jays; Lester exits with back strain  —  BOSTON (AP) — Darnell McDonald threw out Edwin Encarnacion at the plate on a single to short left field for the final out and the Boston Red Sox held on for a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Theo Epstein Says Red Sox More Likely to Be in Market for Position Players As Trade Deadline Nears  —  Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is a pretty busy guy all year long.  This time of year, though, business really starts to pick up.  —  With the trade deadline rapidly approaching …

Giants' Bruce Bochy criticizes the criticizers  —  The All-Star selection process always engenders hard feelings.  This year, it has strained friendships.  —  Jack McKeon and Clint Hurdle, who manage the Marlins and Pirates, respectively, criticized Bruce Bochy for snubbing players on their teams.

Beckham and the Comeback Kids  —  Quick question: At the beginning of the season, who had Tim Beckham pegged to play in this weekend's Futures Game?  The answer is nobody, and his selection for the contest is proof of a very important point when it comes to player development: Sometimes, things simply take a while.

Skeptics view Pujols' return as unnatural  —  ST. LOUIS - The day after Albert Pujols(notes) broke a bone in his left wrist, he asked his hitting coach, Mark McGwire, to do something that seemed utterly wrong.  —  “Mark,” Pujols said, “check my hand.”  —  Pujols extended it.  He wanted McGwire to shake it.

Pirates begin discussions on trade deadline  —  Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said that management will meet Wednesday to start talking about its needs and what moves the team might make in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.  —  “We're just trying to be smart with the moves we make,” Hurdle said.

No lie: Clemens trial is big waste of time  —  CLEVELAND — The word “perspective” has lately become a virus of our vocabulary, an easy catch-all to artificially minimize other problems.  —  Your air conditioner doesn't work?  Well, you just found out your next-door neighbor 's wife had an affair.

Davidoff On Twins, Indians, Reyes, Rays  —  Since few teams have been completely eliminated from contention, the trade market is developing slowly, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff.  As of today, the top commodity available is relief pitching and there's lots of interest in that department.

Andrus uses speed, defence for Rangers win over Orioles  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Elvis Andrus hustled home with the go-ahead run in the seventh, the same inning that he made two spectacular defensive plays, and the Texas Rangers went on to a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

Phillies lash out season-high 18 hits in thrashing of Marlins  —  MIAMI — An intentional walk to Ryan Howard with a runner at first backfired when the next four hitters singled, and the Philadelphia Phillies went on to drub the Florida Marlins 14-2 on Tuesday night.

Freeman hits another homer as Braves beat Rockies  —  ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman's third homer in two games gave Atlanta the early lead, Derek Lowe hit a three-run double and the Braves beat the short-handed Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Tuesday night.  —  Freeman, who had two homers in Atlanta's 4-1 win …

Wood homers, Pirates top Astros to climb four over .500  —  PITTSBURGH — Jeff Karstens allowed one run in seven-plus innings, Brandon Wood homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their third consecutive game, 5-1 over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.  —  Pittsburgh (45-41) …

Dunn hopes to build on big game Monday  —  CHICAGO — In the fourth inning on Monday night, Adam Dunn stood on first base and tipped his helmet to acknowledge the crowd for its standing ovation.  Then in the eighth, he took a curtain call in response to another ovation after slugging a two-run homer.